Vehicle for children



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VEHICLE FOR CHILDREN.

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VEHICLE FOR CHILDREN. No..549,163. Patented Nov. 5, 1895.

1-@ Q Y E UNITED STAT-Es PATENT OFFICE.

l MARK SPENCE, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

VEHICLEv FOR CHILDREN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters4 Patent No. 549,163, dated November 5, 1895.

Application led .T une 3, 1895. Serial No. 551,564. (No model.)

To all whom/,it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MARK SPENCE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Vehicles for Children, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices in the nature of perambulators for small children; and it consists of the wheeled structure adapted to various uses, as hereinafter described and claimed.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of the device; Fig. 2, a side elevation partly sectioned; Fig. 3, a front view. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are detail views of the chair in ultimate and intermediate positions; and Fig. 7, a detail view of the clevis and connecting-rod hereinafter referred to, illustrating the connection and operation.

Referring now to the drawings, A designates the axle, and B the bearing-wheels, of a frame consisting of a pair of curved side bars a a, connected together at the rear by the axle A, upon which they rest, and further by two diagonal rod-braces b, uniting centrally with and supporting a jaw-piece c, projecting forwardly centrally from the axle, and by a fixed horizontal rod or tie d in front of and below the axle. The forward terminals of the side bars rest upon casterwheels w and are pivotally connected to a small stand or foot-rest C, resting upon casterwheels w. Attached to and extending rearwardly and upwardly from the braces a are extensions a, connected across at their rear terminals by a handle a2 for convenience of pushing the vehicle thus formed, these being also diagonally braced by rods h from the central tongue or projection c. Carried upon the frame thus constructed is a childs arm-chair D, supported at the rear by a single standard f, pivoted to the rear of the arm of the chair D above and to the jaw-piece c below, and at the sides by two standards e, pivoted to the seat of the chair D above and to the cross-bar d below. An automatic catch g of any convenient description is provided upon the standard to engage the chairseat and the central brace f together when they reach the position shawn in full lines in the figures and so retain them until disen gaged. A foot-board Dl is secured to and between the side standards e, below the chair D, and serves also as a stiffener and strengthening-brace for the standards c. (In Fig. l the foot-board is indicated by dotted lines only.)

Between the standards e, embracing and turning upon the cross-bar d, are two spiral springs s/ s2, (right and left,) engaging the standards e at their outer terminals, and secured at their inner terminals to a clevis block or plate h, extended rearwardly as a crank-arm, and held against rotation by the springs h, pivotally attached to the block and to the standard f. The springs are constantly in tension, bearing against the standards c and tending to hold them in the vertical position shown in the figures in full lines.

The uses of the device are various. Vhen the parts are in the position shown in full lines, the device can be used as a carriage resting upon the bearing-wheels B, and casterwheels w, the child being seated in the chair D, in which it is held by a forward guard D2 in the usual manner. As a vehicle the device can be pushed from the rear by means of the handle a2 or can be moved back and forth by a person seated near by resting the foot upon the stand or foot-rest C. The device can also be placed adjacent to a table in the manner of an ordinary high chair. The foot-rest C can be left as shown in full lines, resting by its caster-wheels w upon the ground, or can be tilted as indicated by the dotted arc, Fig. 2, back upon the frame.

Further uses are indicated by dotted lines in Fig 2-that is to say, the chair D can be oscillated forward and downward upon its supports-the connections being such that the chair always retains its proper relative position, so that the foot-rest C becomes the foot-board of the chair, as shown, and the parts are held in this position by'an adjustable fastening, such as a strap t, secured to the footrest C and engaging the foot-board D', as indicated in Fig. 6. In thus moving forward the springs s s2 are brought into greater tension both by the turn of the standard e forward, carrying the outer terminals of the springs, and also by the action of the brace f, through its connecting-rod h and the clevis h, engag- IOO ing the inner terminals of the springs through the clevis-block h acting as a crank andmoving backward, as indicated in Fig. 7. The rod h is provided with ordinary clevisconnections with the standard fand the block h, so that by its adjustment the force of the tension of the spring may be made sufficient to balance the weight of the child (or as nearly as desired) when the parts are in their forward position, so that while in the forward position the seat D may be moved up and down by the child within the limits 'of the holdingstrap, affording amusement rand exercising the limbs.

By tilting the foot-rest C entirely back, and then bringing the chair to the position last described and suitably adjusting the strap t, the feet of the child may rest upon the ground and the partial support thus afforded may be utilized as an aid in teaching the lchild to walk.

By proper adjustment of the springs s' s2 to attain sufficient power the chair may be oscillated between its eXtreme positions indicated, thus taking the place of a swing I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States;-

1. In combination with a permanent wheeled supporting frame, having a forward extension provided with a foot-rest, a chair carried upon standards pivoted to the frame and adapted to be maintained thereon in the 'elevated upright position or thrown forward to a position near the ground above the foot-rest, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with a wheeled supporting frame, and a pivoted forward extension, having supporting casters, the chair carried upon pivoted standards and adapted to be secured in the upright position shown, or tilted forward above the forward extension of the frame, substantially as set forth.

3. In combination with the wheeled supporting frame, the chair carried by the supporting standards and adapted to be tilted forward, and the springs normally in tension against the standards, tending to retain them in vertical position, substantially as set forth.

4. In combination with a wheeled supporting frame, the cross bar, the chair and the supporting standards, the oppositely coiled springs carried upon the cross bar of the frame and bearing against the outer supporting standards of the chair, substantial] y as set forth.

5. In combination with the chair, the pivotcd supporting standards, and the opposite] y coiled springs, bearing at one end against thc standards,the connecting rod, adj ustably connected to the rear standard and mediately to the inner ends of the springs, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MARK SPENCE. lVitnesses L. M. HosEA, FRANK K. BowMAN. 

